Alarm clock



f T *VAILABLE COPY Dec. 27, 1932. R. Q Fansuse n ALARM CLOCK Filed July 28. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 337/ iliil:

I Dec. 27, 1932.

R. o. FERGUSON:

ALARM CLOCK Filed July 28. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, R O FERGUSON ALARM CLOCK Filed July 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT 0. FERGUSON, OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE ALARM CLOCK Application filed July 28, 1931. Serial N'o. 553,630.

This invention relates to alarm clocks and the improved slide members for effecting opmore particularly to certain improvements eration of the alarm upon the occurrence of in alarm clocks whereby they are capable of a fire. acting as fire signals. The casing 2 of the clock as shown in Fig. 5 An important feature of the invention is 1, is provided with a gong 4 which is secured 55 comprised in an improved mechanism for to the clock casing 2 for the clock works. A sounding an alarm which, while ordinarily clock mechanism is enclosed between the pair time-actuated, may be actuated through the of plates, one of which, 5, appears in Figs. 2 fusing of a controlling element upon an aband 4. Such mechanism includes the usual normal rise of temperature, and without intrains of time and alarm gears, with their terference with the time-actuated means of actuating springs, and setting means for the the alarm. The mechanism referredto emtime and alarm mechanisms. In connection bodies two slidable members which are caused with the latter, the hammer 6 is actuated bv to separate upon the occurrence of a fire, its spring to sound the alarm through the through spring tension devices, and to reaction of the usual pallet wheel 8 acting upon lease certain devices which normally prevent the pallet lever 9, the latter being connected the operation of the alarm until the time through a link (not shown), to the hammer, mechanism of the clock acts to release such and the pallet wheel being restrained against 0 devices. Upon movement of such members rotation ordinarily by a detent 10 carried by the hammer or striker of the gong is released a spring arm 12, called the trip lever, and if the usual restraining stop happens to be secured at one end to the front plate which in obstructing position, and at the same time encloses the clock works. The spring arm 12 the usual pallet wheel is simultaneously ordinarily holds the detent in engagement freed from the time controlled detent which with the teeth of the pallet 8 as shown in ordinarily prevents its movement, and these Fig. 2, but is withdrawn to thereby free the two functions are performed without interpallet and permit the alarm to strike when fering with the ordinary adjustments which the time arrives for which the alarm mechaare made in alarm clocks of a familiar type. nism is set to operate.

The invention furthermore embodies cer- In order to ring the alarm intermittently tain novel arrangements of parts and simple the clock is equipped with the usual interand economical features to accomplish the mittent or repeat lever 14 having a latch 16 results herein stated, as well as other advanformed near its end which engages a projectages which will more fully appear from the tion 18 carried at the end portion of the'pallet following description when considered in lever 9. The intermittent lever 14 is suitconnection with the accompanying drawings, ably fulcrumed between the plates 5 which in which enclose the clock works. The latch 16 is nor- Fig. 1 shows in perspective an alarm clock mally held in engagement with the projecembodying the features of the invention; tion 18 by a suitable spring (not shown) and Figs. 1a, 1b, 10, and 1d are sectional detail the lever 14 is vibrated intermittently by 8. views on the lines a, b, c and d, respectively, toothed wheel, to alternately engage and re- 99 Fig. 2; lease the pallet 9, usually at intervals of about ig. 2 is an interior elevation of the same thirty seconds, whereby the alarm is caused clock, looking from the rear with the back to operate intermittently, or to repeat. In of the casing removed; order to permit a steady rm ing of the alarm Fig. 3 is a plan view; a finger piece 20 connecte with a slide 21 Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing which latter has a projection 22, is moved the parts in alarm sounding position; to cause the projection to engage the outer ex- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a circular tremity of the lever 14, and move the latter frame to support the alarm mechanism, and 1111108. position where it is not permitted to in- 100 Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view showing termittently engage and release the pallet 9.

* operate by an On the left hand side of the clock, as viewed from Fig. 2, a finger piece 23 is connected with a slide 24; which carries a right-angularly projecting stop 25 which, as shown, may be moved into or out of obstructing relation to the hammer 6. When the finger piece 23 is moved so as to point to the word Silent, the stop 25 en gages the stem of the hammer 6 and prevents the latter from operating, but 2n the linger piece and its slide are moved at the finger piece points to the word mini, the stop 25 is removed'from the and the latter is free to operate. The 3' features of operation and control c which are common to alarm clocks 1pc known as; the Big Ben, and others.

nod in such clocks by the addition etc of mechanism which will be caused to abnormal rise of temperature due to a tire. Such mechanism which applicant so added, does not interfere with the normal functioning of the parts as are found in the clock as above described, but perm 1 functions to be performed without in- .erence of the temperature controlling means which will be now described.

The circular frame 28 is inserted in the clue case and supports the slides .21, 24, which are connected with the finger pieces 20, and control the operations of the alarm, as above pointed out. The frame 28 is constructcd with a llange 29, having therein openings 30 from which lead slots 31, the flanges 29 supporting the slides connected with the linger pi and the slots 31 permitting free open ion thereof. The frame 28 su i ports two bar members 27, 27a, both herein shown as sl ding and located, respectively, upon opposite sides of the vertical center line of the och as viewed from Fig. 2, said sliding;- members at their outer extremities having right angular bent portions 276, 27c constituting proiections or holding means for a fusible connecting device.

The inner ends of the members 27. 27c, are pivotally connected to links 33, 34, whose opposite ends are connected through flexible members 32, 35, with spiral springs 36, 37, the opposite ends of said springs being anchored as shown at 38 to a rigid portion of the clock frame at the bottom part thereof.

The outer extremities of the members 27, 27a, when the some are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, are brought together and connected by a. fusible connection 40. As herein shown, this connection is in the form of a plate of metal or other material having a low melting point, carrying at its end portions two hollow nuts 41, which slip over the free ends 27 b, 27 c, and hold the parts in theposition shown in Fig. 2, with the springs 36, 37 under tension.

I have herein illustrated the connection between the sliding member 27 and the finger piece 23 as consisting of a slot 42 in the slide -mer 26', or out of such position,

ct has modified the construction as 24 which engages a pin 43 on the link 33, thereby permitting relative motion between the slide 24' and member 27 and its link 33. Such connection permits independent adjustment of the stop' 5 through the instrumentality of finger piece 23 to place said step in obstructing position relative to the hamas deter- Silent.

minedby the words Alarm and The other slidablemember 27a, is shown as ri 'dl connected with the finger piece 20, w ere y said parts would move together and without independence of movement. It is to be understood, however, that the slide 21 may be connected to the link 34 by a slot and pin connection, the same as herein shown for the slide 24 and link 33, so that the Repeat or Steady positions of the finger piece 20may be made independently of the slide 21.

The slide 21 carries}; cam 51 which is adapted when the slide is released to engage with the face of the spring arm 12 and move said; arm laterally'to thereby disengage the detent 10 from the teeth of the pallet wheel 8,and at the same time the projection 22 engages the end of the intermittent lever '14 and prevents the same from engaging the projection18 on the pallet 9. From the above description, it will be seen thatwhen the sliding members 27, 27a are connected by the fusible plate 40, as shown in Fig. 2, the parts will be in such position that the alarm mechanism,'comprising the'usual alarm spring (not'shown), the gear 45, and the train therefrom to the pallet wheel, will be free to operate the alarm at a predetermined time 1n accordance with the position of the alarm setting device, and without in-. terference by the temperature alarm oper ating mechanism. That is to say, when the alarm spring has been properly wound and with the parts as shown in Fig. 20f the drawings, the finger piece 23 is free to be moved for positioning the stop 25 int-0 or out of obstructing relation to the hammer 26. If out of such relation, when the time arrives for the alarm to sound, the. dentcntlo will be withdrawn, and the alarm sounded, and as melt the fusible plate 40, the'members 27 27a will thereby be released and will be forcibly separated by the springs 36, 37. If the stop 25 happens to be in the position as shown in Fig. 2 where it will obstruct the movement of the hammer 6, the slide 24 will remove thestop from such position into that shown in Fig. 4. Movement of the member 27a will, through its slide 21 remove the .detent 10 from the teeth of the pallet 8. and at the same time the projection 22 will engage the intermittent lever 14 so as to hold it out of position to interfere with the uninterrupted vibration of the pallet lever 9, thereby permitting the gong to ring continuously.

As the improved parts of my clock are herein shown as organized, the gong will be caused to operate intermittently, or to repeat at intervals when the time controlled mechanism for the gong is operating in the usual way; while, on the other hand, if a fire should occur and cause the fusible member 40 to melt, thus releasing the temperature controlled gong actuating members 27, 27a, the intermittent action of the gong will be prevented and the on will be made to sound continuously. this organization of the parts, where the gong is set for example, to ring at six oclock A. M., by a person who desires to be awakened at that time, if that person is awakened in the night for example, by the gong, and he notices that it rings continuously, he will instantly be apprised of the fire, as otherwise the gong would ring intermittently. This is a very useful function of my alarm apparatus in that the difference in the manner in which the alarm is sounded will warn a person of the existence of a fire, or of the fact that the alarm has been time actuated.

While I have herein shown a construction which desirably embodies the features of mv invention, it is to be understood that the same may be varied within the reasonable limits, without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided such changes are the alarm to ring intermittently, only, at a predetermined time, of temperature actuated mechanism operating independently of the time actuated mechanism and constructed to cause continuous ringing of the alarm, only, upon the rise of temperature above a predetermined limit.

3. In an alarm clock, the combination of a gong, a striker and mechanism including time controlled devices for causin the alarm to ring, of temperature controlle means including o positely sliding 'spring impelled members or ringing the alarm independently of the time controlled mechanism, and a fusible device for connecting said members.

4. In an alarm clock, the combination of time controlled alarm actuating mechanism, of temperature actuating mechanism operating independently of the time controlled mechanism and including two oppositely sliding members, a fusible device connecting said members at one end, and spring devices connecting said members at their opposite ends.

5. In an alarm clock, the combination of a gong, a hammer, and time controlled mechanism for actuating said hammer, of temperature controlled devices for actuating the gong independently of the time controlled devices and including oppositely sliding members, a fusible device connecting. the outer ends of said members, springs connecting the inner ends of said members, and astop for obstructing the operation of the hammer connected with one of said sliding members.

6. In an alarm clock the combination of a gong, a hammer, and mechanism for effecting the actuation of the hammer for ringing the gong at a predetermined time, including a detent for engaging the usual pallet, said detent carried by a spring arm, two oppositely sliding spring controlled members arranged to be restrained from movement by a fusible link, a hammer obstructing stop carried by one of said members, and a cam carried by the other of said members and arranged to deflect the spring arm and remove the detent from the pallet, said members being caused tooperate when said link melts upon a predetermined rise of temperature.

7. An alarm clock having, in combination, a gong, a hammer, and time controlled actuating mechanism for said hammer, a slide carrying a stop for obstructing the movements of the hammer, an adjustable finger piece connected with said slide, a second slide provided with a finger piece, a device for effecting intermittent or steady o ration of the hammer to ring the gong, a nger piece for adjusting the position of said device, so arately movable spring actuated slidab e members connected, respectively, with said finger ieces and a fusible device connecting said members and restraining their movements until a temperature sufiicient to fuse said member has been reached.

8. An alarm clock having in combination time controlled alarm mechanism comprising a gong, a hammer and devices for actuating the hammer, oppositely sliding members, springs connected with said members and acting to separate them, a fusible device normally holding said members against separation, a hammer obstructing stop connected with one of said members, and means connected with the other of said members and arranged to release the time actuated mechanism and permit the alarm to ring when the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit.

9. An alarm independent of the time mechanism comprisin a gong, a hammer and devices for actuating the hammer, oppositely sliding members, springs connected with said members and acting to separate them, a fusible device normally holding said members against separation, a hammer obstructing stop eonn with one of said members, and means connected with the other of said members and arranged to release mechanism and permit the alarm to ring whenthe temper '3 ature exceeds a predetermined limit. 10. In an alarm clock, the combination of a rig, a hammer, and time-controlled mechanlsm for actuating said hammer of temperaturecontrolled means for permitting actu- 110 ation of the hammer-b the hammer actuating mechanism inde n ently of the time controlled device inc uding two members one of which is sli dable relatively to the other, a fusible device connecting said members, a

fl! spring connected with one of said members and acting to cause relative movement of the members when said fusible device melts, a cam carried by said member, and a spring 7 having means for obstructing a rotating elee ment instrumental in permitting movement of the hammer to strike the gong, said spring arranged to be deflected to release the striker mechanism when acted upon by said cam.

11. In 'an alarm clock, the combination of as a gong, a hammer, and mechanism for efi'e'cting the actuation of the hammer for sounding the gong at a predetermined time, includmg a detent for engaging a rotary element of the hammer actuating mechanism, a spring arm carrying said etent, two pro'ecting members, one of said members being idable relatively to the other, a spring for acting upon said member to cause the separation of said members, a fusible device connecting said members, and a cam carried by said movable member and arranged to deflect the spring and remove said detent when said fusible device melts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand this 3d day of July, A. D. 1931.

ROB RT 0. FERGUSON. 

